Gary Mazakian – Chief Franchising officer at Pickup USA Fitness Gary Mazakian: Building a Scalable Franchise Culture That Turns Courts Into Community Engines As Chief Franchising Officer at PickUp USA Fitness, Gary Mazakian brings a rare combination of grassroots operational experience, rigorous development discipline, and a purpose-driven approach to awarding franchises that transform basketball gyms into thriving local businesses and community anchors. Through more than a decade with a brand that evolved from a single gym in Irwindale, California, into a national franchising platform, he helped codify the playbook, train early owners, structure development processes, and now steers franchise selection with a focus on operational excellence, values alignment, and unit economics that stand the test of time. His story is one of patient buildout and consistent standards, where each decision is grounded in data, field learning, and a deep respect for the entrepreneurs who carry the brand into their neighborhoods. Early Years on the Court Mazakian’s path began with a personal leap from real estate finance into a single-unit basketball gym that needed a leader who could open at dawn, manage teams, clean courts, and close at night while learning every lever that moves unit economics. Those early tasks informed his view of member experience, operational rhythm, and cost control, and they eventually positioned him to partner with founder Jordan Meinster in blueprinting the operating manual that would become the foundation for franchising. Codifying court rental pricing, youth training curricula, sales processes, and day-to-day workflows created the conditions for scale, not by guesswork, but by precise standards that could be applied from one market to the next. From Field Coach to Development Strategist When the franchising arm launched, Mazakian shifted into an operations coach role that required months on the road training the earliest franchisees and helping them land their first members. The work involved payroll budgeting, local partnership building, and live-fire adjustments to sales and service practices based on each market’s nuances and each owner’s capabilities. That period cemented three beliefs that shape his leadership today: every market is unique, every owner brings a different toolkit, and the playbook must be rigid on standards yet flexible in application. Following operations, he moved into development to help new owners secure financing, negotiate LOIs, and oversee construction, which forced a rigorous translation of vision into square footage and a careful review of rent rolls and occupancy thresholds before ground was ever broken. By approaching site selection through the lens of P&L reality and operating viability, he ensured franchisees started on a footing that supported durable cash flow rather than optimistic scenarios. The Mandate of a Franchising Chief As Chief Franchising Officer, Mazakian’s mandate is to identify franchise partners who can execute the model and grow economically strong units while safeguarding brand standards in every club that opens. He treats franchise awarding as a long-term partnership, not a transaction, and prioritizes candidates who match the brand’s culture, are financially prepared, and demonstrate the discipline to run a high-touch operational business. The decision to grant a franchise is, in his language, a trust placed in someone to carry the brand’s playbook and promise to their city, and he does not take that responsibility lightly. Motivation Anchored in Impact Mazakian’s motivation comes from measurable community impact, where each club becomes a small business that hires locally, mentors youth, and energizes neighborhoods through basketball. The stories that fuel him are personal and practical, from first jobs for teenagers to families whose trajectories change through entrepreneurship, all brought to life inside a model that turns courts into community hubs. In challenging times, his compass points to process discipline, data visibility, and purpose, allowing tough calls to be made with clarity and consistency. A Leadership Style That Scales His leadership evolved from a “do-it-all” operator into a systems builder who still prefers to stay close to the floor of the business through field visits, training calls, and real-time store-level analysis. That proximity keeps his franchise decisions grounded in the realities of staffing, scheduling, membership conversion, and guest experience, ensuring that selected owners are aligned with the daily demands that drive results. The work is hands-on, both at corporate-owned stores and across the network, because credibility and standards are maintained through presence, not proclamations. Proudest Achievements in the Growth Arc From one unit to a national system, Mazakian sees his greatest achievements in the moments franchisees move from ambition to operation, such as lease signings, construction milestones, and opening-week member enrollments that validate months of preparation. The transformation from employee to employer, from first-time entrepreneur to community leader, is the heartbeat of his work and a confirmation that selection, training, and support can unlock economic agency for owners and their teams. He views franchisees as the backbone of the brand and credits their success as the true measure of the system’s strength and future potential. Standards That Define Influence In Mazakian’s view, influence comes from example, transparency, and reliability, with corporate-operated stores serving as laboratories and proof points for what the system asks franchisees to do. If a strategy underperforms, it is revised rather than defended, and if a commitment is made, it is kept, because trust and consistency are performance multipliers across a network. He believes that honoring timelines and deliverables is not a courtesy but a requirement, because franchisees invest their future and need a leadership team that operates with integrity. Innovation Through Disciplined Iteration Innovation at PickUp USA is structured, not sporadic, and framed by a willingness to challenge tradition when the data or the guest experience suggests a better way. The brand gathers ideas from guests and franchisees, pressure-tests them, and converts the best ones into standardized systems with the right tech stack and playbooks to spread improvements quickly and consistently. That approach enables agility without chaos and maintains the stability that owners need to plan, invest, and lead teams confidently. Tough Decisions and the Bar for Selection Demand for territories exceeds availability, which means the hardest decisions often involve saying no to

David Johnson – Founder & CEO At Gingerbread Homes David Johnson: Staying The Course in a World of Constant Change David Johnson’s leadership journey is defined by clarity, conviction, and an unflinching commitment to purpose, a profile shaped by experience, resilience, and a mindset anchored in consistency and truth. As a Canadian business leader with a network that reflects decades of meaningful influence, he has built a career by keeping things simple, doing the work, and setting the standard by example. His philosophy is near minimalistic in words and maximal in action, and the results speak to a trajectory that continues to inspire both veteran executives and emerging leaders. A defining milestone came recently, when he completed an MBA in artificial intelligence at the age of 63, a credential that underscores both curiosity and stamina in equal measure. In a marketplace where emerging technologies can intimidate seasoned operators, his choice signals a belief that learning is a lifelong responsibility, not a phase that ends when a career matures. It is consistent with a broader ethos he lives by: stay the course, move straight ahead, and expect the miracle that comes from focused, steady effort. Early Foundations Johnson’s early path reflects the bootstrap realities many entrepreneurs and operators recognize, culminating in the creation and leadership of his own company before facing a turning point that would test conviction and character. More than two decades ago, an unfriendly takeover forced a decision few founders anticipated but many feared, and he chose to resign from the very company he had built. The choice was made with the steadfast support of his wife, a detail that reveals a personal infrastructure of trust and courage behind the public leadership narrative. That inflection point became more than a career chapter; it shaped a practical philosophy of leadership that prizes integrity over title, mission over momentum, and long-term credibility over short-term optics. In the years that followed, Johnson continued to cultivate teams and communities with a tone that is calm, concise, and action-oriented, reinforcing a leadership brand as reliable as it is disciplined. Clarity As A Leadership Tool Johnson describes his style as short, sweet, and to the point, a concise framework that leaves no room for ambiguity about goals or standards. His call to action is equally direct: do it, then show it, a two-step loop that makes accountability visible and measurable across any function or industry. By keeping language simple and expectations high, he creates space for teams to move quickly while eliminating the friction that comes from overcomplication. Consistency sits at the center of his influence model, paired with a commitment to follow the truth and solve problems with pragmatic urgency. In practice, this means decisions are anchored to first principles, and communication is measured by whether it helps the team take the next right step. Inspiration, in his view, is not a performance but a byproduct of leaders who model steadiness, invite ownership, and keep promises. The Conviction To Challenge The Status Quo Innovation under Johnson is not theater; it is the disciplined habit of questioning defaults, updating assumptions, and inviting alternatives that move the work forward. His guidance to challenge the status quo is not a slogan but a permission structure for teams to test, learn, and iterate without losing the thread of business reality. This framing turns agility into a cultural reflex, where experiments are rigorous, and novelty serves outcomes rather than overshadowing them. That stance pairs naturally with his ongoing study of artificial intelligence, where the point is not hype but utility, not gadgets but leverage. Completing an AI-focused MBA later in his career shows a readiness to connect modern tools with timeless leadership disciplines like judgment, prioritization, and ethical clarity. It also signals to teams and peers that growth is always available to those willing to do the work and stay curious. Operating From Quadrant 2 Johnson balances strategic vision and daily execution through a lens drawn from Stephen Covey’s time management matrix, choosing to live in Quadrant 2, where work is important but not urgent. This framework emphasizes proactive planning, capability building, relationship investment, and systems that prevent tomorrow’s fires rather than constantly reacting to today’s alarms. Leaders who are biased toward Quadrant 2 create reliable throughput, predictable decision cycles, and teams that make progress without drama. In application, this means roadmap thinking over calendar churn, intentional tradeoffs over frantic multitasking, and a deep attention to activities that compound value over time. The discipline to remain in Quadrant 2 protects strategic intent from the noise of performative urgency, giving teams confidence that their efforts align with long-term outcomes. The practice is simple to describe and hard to maintain, which is why his consistency becomes a cultural asset that keeps execution aligned with strategy. Decision Making Under Pressure The decision to walk away from a company he founded demonstrates a willingness to accept short-term costs to preserve long-term integrity, a calculus that separates durable leaders from situational managers. Pressure reveals values, and in Johnson’s case, the outcome was a reaffirmation that leadership is service to truth, not just stewardship of assets or titles. By stepping aside rather than compromising principles, he reinforced to colleagues and stakeholders that character is the non-negotiable core of sustainable leadership. That moment also clarifies how he frames guidance for others who face similar crossroads: anchor choices in conviction, seek counsel from trusted partners, and refuse to let fear set the agenda. The support of his wife at that moment reflects a leadership ecosystem that includes family as a stabilizing force, a reminder that professional courage is often sustained by personal trust. The result is a leadership story that pairs strength with humility and decisiveness with gratitude. Motivation That Sustains Momentum Asked what keeps him motivated in difficult times, Johnson returns to a simple refrain: stay the course, do not turn to the right or left, and expect the miracle that follows consistent effort. The language is direct and grounded, reflecting a belief that

Nitish Shrivastava – Senior Vice President, Head of Products and SASVA ™ at Persistent Systems   Shaping Tomorrow with Purpose: Nitish Shrivastava’s Blueprint for Meaningful Innovation“The future isn’t what we know, it’s what we imagine. And in that imagination lies the power to shape the world.”   In an engaging conversation with Nitish Shrivastava, Senior Vice President and Head of Products and SASVATM at Persistent Systems, we explored the path that has shaped his impressive contributions to the world of enterprise technology and AI. His journey exemplifies how technological advancement can evolve into transformative leadership that serves a greater purpose, combining deep expertise with visionary thinking to create solutions that bridge innovation with meaningful business outcomes—where each breakthrough is driven by both possibility and purpose. His formative years collaborating with the Government of India on critical national projects established his foundation for pursuing transformative, technologically advanced solutions that were remarkably ahead of their time. One of his early innovations, Es-Vault, was a secure data storage solution built with a strong emphasis on data protection and controlled access. At a time when security protocols were often an afterthought, Es-Vault took a proactive approach, setting the tone for the security-first architecture that has become standard in enterprise products today. He then went on to develop Anveshak, a search and discovery system designed for large-scale information retrieval. Created with the needs of national authorities at its core, Anveshak could handle complex queries while adhering to strict security requirements. The balance it struck between intelligence and control became a valuable reference point for future AI systems that would be expected to perform under similarly demanding conditions. One of Nitish’s standout projects was Mantra, a translation system that tackled multilingual communication challenges long before such capabilities became essential to global operations. The system’s strength lay beyond language translation, and in maintaining contextual integrity, a feature that anticipated the rise of modern natural language processing technologies. Another significant chapter in his career was the creation of a medical expert system. Designed to support decision-making in healthcare, this system highlighted how AI could work alongside professionals rather than in place of them. It offered diagnostic insights without overriding clinical judgment, embodying Nitish’s consistent belief that technology should empower human expertise, not replace it. Throughout our conversation, one thing stood out about Nitish Shrivastava’s leadership: his exceptional ability to bring together complex organizations where technology, people, and strategy work in perfect harmony. His approach goes beyond traditional product management—he builds connected systems where innovation happens through smart collaboration. What sets Nitish apart is his skill at understanding how different parts of an organization work: he can translate product vision into engineering reality, align service delivery with customer expectations, while ensuring that strategic objectives resonate across every level of execution. This deep understanding of how business works, combined with his instinct for seeing hidden connections between seemingly disparate elements, helps him transform fragmented initiatives into cohesive, high-performing systems. It’s this focused approach to building alignment—where every part achieves both individual success and collective purpose—that has become the hallmark of his transformative leadership. One of the key insights he shared was the difference in how service and product customers make decisions. Service buyers often look for dependable delivery, flexibility, and the ability to respond quickly. Product buyers focus more on long-term growth, integration with existing systems, and a steady path for improvement. Recognizing this gap early, Nitish began working on a model that draws from both perspectives, bringing speed and flexibility together with planning and scale. At Persistent, this approach has led to solutions that are designed to last. They’re reliable in the present and structured for what comes next. But more importantly, they’re built within a wider system, where teams collaborate, feedback is constant, and every part of the process supports the larger outcome. What makes Nitish’s leadership stand out is the way he keeps everything rooted. He doesn’t overpromise or overdesign. Instead, he focuses on getting the foundation right. That means creating platforms that can handle change, designing with client needs in mind, and making sure every part of the ecosystem works well with the rest. His track record reflects a consistent vision, technology that serves people, understands context, and grows responsibly. As Persistent Systems continues to expand its footprint in enterprise AI, Nitish remains focused on building platforms that blend innovation with trust. Building Trust, Not Hype With SASVA At a time when much of the tech world was captivated by the promise of generative AI, Nitish and his team took a markedly different route, focusing on reliability, predictability, and enterprise-grade deployment. Nitish reflects, While the world chased flashy AI breakthroughs, we quietly built the technology that enterprises need to scale AI in the real world.’ SASVA was built on a foundation of reliability and predictability, specifically designed for enterprise customers with sensitive data and regulatory compliance requirements. Its deterministic architecture prioritized on-premises deployment capabilities, eliminating data leakage risks and ensuring consistent, predictable outcomes that met the stringent standards of regulated organizations. While these weren’t the most talked-about features in 2021, they became essential by 2024 as enterprises grew increasingly cautious about black-box AI systems and unpredictable system behaviors. As the market caught up to these priorities, SASVA’s foundation became its strongest differentiator. “We built SASVA three years before the market understood why it was necessary,” Nitish shares. Rather than chasing momentary trends, the team concentrated on what large-scale organizations would truly need to operationalize AI. The result was a platform ready for production from day one, capable of withstanding the practical pressures of enterprise operations while still delivering measurable returns on investment. His conviction stemmed from lessons learned early in his career. Tasked with creating a LinkedIn-style platform for government use before LinkedIn even existed, Nitish experienced firsthand how traditional approaches often failed to meet real-world needs. That project taught him that solving complex problems requires building for actual conditions, not ideal scenarios. It’s a mindset he’s carried into every major product decision since. One

Amar Sane – Life coach and Executive coach The executive coaching profession has evolved into a highly developed field that integrates learnings from positive psychology, neuroscience, and organisational behaviour to lead clients to enduring change. Trained coaches use systematic models from goal-setting models to habit-forming strategies and draw on profound listening and potent questioning to uncover blind spots and unseen capacity. With leadership challenges rising in globalised, digital workspaces, coaching has become essential for transitioning through careers, developing emotional intelligence, and aligning professional paths with personal meaning. Ethical codes and accrediting bodies guarantee practitioners uphold high standards, while online platforms break down cultural barriers to access. Through data-informed assessments and partnership accountability, contemporary coaching combines empathy and objectivity to enable individuals to achieve well-defined milestones and maintain momentum. In this ever-changing space, coaches drive deep transformation by collaborating with clients to co-create honest, practical routes to achieving their goals. Amar Sane is a renowned life coach and executive with a 25-year background in the life insurance sector, capped by an honorary doctorate in Sales & Operations Management from Paris’s EIU. A certified member of the International Coach Federation, he follows a strict “no-advice” policy and creates judgment-free zones where clients discover their solutions. His signature eight-step goal-setting model and deep listening mastery have enabled hundreds of professionals to deliver breakthroughs. Spurred by his life’s calling to spark self-discovery, he provides all coaching services gratis, focusing on impact rather than income. Core Philosophical and Ethical Principles That Underpin Amar Sane’s Client-Centered, Holistic, Empowerment-Focused Transformational Coaching Approach Amar’s coaching approach is founded upon five interconnected pillars that drive independent growth and sustainable change. First, he has a strict no-advice policy, having faith that clients already possess the insight to overcome their problems. This equips them with the ability to find their solutions. Secondly, he creates a judgment-free environment, de-linking behaviours from negative beliefs, enabling the clients to test new behaviours fearlessly without judgment. Third, his knowledge of deep, active listening skills allows him to gain insight into both verbalized objectives and the unwritten emotional undercurrents behind them, guaranteeing a sophisticated coaching process. Fourth, he underscores co-designing in clear terms of engagement, creating mutual goals, confidentiality, and accountability to synchronize expectations and establish trust. Fueled by his life purpose, Amar provides all services on a pro bono basis, believing true transformation lies beyond financial exchange. These tenets generate a safe, empowering space where clients can experiment, iterate, and achieve their highest potential. By bringing these pillars together, Amar enables sustainable transformation, coaching clients to realize their potential and become the embodiment of their aims with clarity and confidence. His strategy makes clients feel empowered and accompanied, eliciting a change process based on self-discovery and individual development, without external judgment or restriction. Comprehensive Strategies in Questioning and Reflective Dialogue for Facilitating Lasting Change and Breakthrough Moments in Client Sessions Clients approach Amar with diverse challenges: career plateauing, undefined life direction, relationship conflict, or money challenges. He begins with open-ended, energetic questions that examine fundamental values, peak performance experiences, and untested assumptions. For example, a client struggling with a professional plateau may be invited to describe personal values, reflect on peak performance experiences, and describe ideal future jobs. The reflective conversation reveals underlying assumptions, recasting problems as the potential for expansion. Later sessions involve collaboration in developing specific action steps, grounded in measurable targets and realistic deadlines to build momentum. Systematic check-ins and responsive changes sustain energy, keeping clients on course. Amar’s method combines strategic questioning with compassionate presence, allowing introspective insights that convert uncertainty into clarity, hesitation into intentional action, and challenges into opportunities. By supporting clients in accessing their inner wisdom, he empowers them to move through their paths with confidence. His process sets up a secure environment for investigation, allowing for long-term change and fulfilling results. Clients walk away with a better sense of purpose, able to overcome obstacles and pursue goals with renewed determination and strength, translating potential into action through a guided but adaptable coaching model. Strategic Eight-Step Goal-Setting Framework to Bridge the Gap Between Ambition and Achievement Through Focused Action and Measurable Milestones At the centre of Amar’s coaching approach is an eight-step process that brings vision into reality. Step one formulates outcome-driven goals, aligning goals with essential values and intended impact. Step two sets precise metrics for monitoring progress effectively. Step three establishes realistic yet challenging timescales to keep momentum. Step four involves clients crafting action plans in detail, listing tasks, resources, and milestones. Step five enhances commitment through visualization and affirmations, building belief in the process. Step six finds potential challenges, creating forward-thinking contingency measures. Step seven evaluates current strengths and gaps in resources, leading to targeted skill development. Lastly, step eight implements the plan with ongoing reflection and adaptive refinement to ensure success. This systematic yet flexible methodology infuses accountability and transparency, enabling clients to tackle complexity with certainty. Through the integration of strategic planning with reflective practices, Amar’s model powers transformative outcomes in both personal and professional lives. Clients emerge equipped to turn aspirations into tangible outcomes, supported by a disciplined process that fosters resilience, clarity, and sustainable growth, enabling them to overcome challenges and achieve their highest potential. Powerful Techniques for Revealing and Reconstructing Deep-Seated Belief Systems to Unlock New Perspectives and Personal Breakthroughs Amar uses a powerful blend of evidence-based techniques to help clients break free from limiting beliefs and unlock lasting transformation. Drawing from neuro-linguistic programming, cognitive reframing, and values elicitation, he creates a structured yet deeply personal process for change. Clients engage in guided mapping exercises that uncover the roots of problematic thought patterns, often tracing them back to early experiences. Through reframing prompts, Amar helps reinterpret these memories in empowering ways, shifting the client’s internal narrative. By identifying and clarifying core values, he aligns clients’ decisions with what genuinely matters to them, ensuring authenticity in their actions. He also introduces resource discovery protocols to spotlight both internal strengths and external support systems, boosting confidence and self-efficacy. Amar’s empathetic presence

  Ignacio Bonasa – Founder and Executive President of Liderarte “True leadership begins when we choose inner truth over outer praise — daring to rewrite the narrative and lead from the essence of who we are.” The personal development and organizational development industries are evolving rapidly. New concepts in leadership and learning are informing how individuals and businesses develop. Strategies that enhance emotional intelligence and innovative approaches, such as the use of art, are helping individuals work more effectively and be happier while doing so. Large shifts in mindset are enabling people to lead with intention and foster positive workplace cultures. These sectors now focus on scalable solutions that merge emotional insight and imagination to enhance team collaboration and productivity. Leadership training today is all about helping leaders remain authentic. It prepares them to face challenges with clarity and compassion. As more people seek human-centered methods, these industries are redefining how we understand success, purpose, and relationships globally.  Ignacio Bonasa’s path from an international banking executive to a transformational entrepreneur and soulful leader is the embodiment of the power of inner alignment to create external impact. Founder and Executive President of Liderarte and President of two major European associations, he coordinates more than thirty initiatives that reshape how people learn, lead, and connect. With innovative approaches such as Aprendizaje por el Arte (Learning Through Art®) and initiatives like Dale la vuelta a la tortilla (Turn the Table), Bonasa has demonstrated the power of art and emotion to drive deep change in performance, purpose, and wellness. This feature explores his philosophy, projects, and vision of the future of work, offering insights for leaders across industries. Ignacio Bonasa’s Strategic Evolution: From Global Banking Executive to Transformational Leader Focused on Soulful Entrepreneurship and Impact Bonasa’s early career unfolded in the competitive world of international banking, where he quickly rose to executive positions. As CEO of BBVA Portugal and President of BBVA Dinero Express, he was responsible for overseeing complex global operations, managing financial risks, and responding to rapidly changing economic environments. These roles refined his strategic thinking, sharpened his crisis leadership skills, and placed him at the top tier of corporate management.  Yet beneath the surface of professional success, Bonasa felt increasing dissonance — a disconnect between outer achievements and inner purpose. Seeking to align his values with his work, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, launching real estate ventures that gave him more freedom and long-term insight into structural growth and stakeholder relations. At the same time, he faced a personal crisis that sparked a profound transformation. Burned out and emotionally distant, he began to reimagine leadership as a path rooted in soulfulness — one that honors human depth and integrates business competence. Today, he applies his executive experience to inspire movements grounded in purpose, compassion, and inner truth. He empowers people to lead with authenticity, resilience, and conscious presence. The Birth of Liderarte: How Personal Crisis Sparked a Movement Rooted in Soulful Leadership During this turning point, Bonasa experienced a profound inner awakening — a moment that dismantled the illusion of success defined by titles, achievements, and external validation. Although he held prestigious positions, he was struggling with a growing sense of emptiness, where accomplishments felt meaningless and daily roles masked his authentic self. In the silence that followed, he discovered a deeper calling: to help individuals build not external monuments of success, but rich inner landscapes of meaning, authenticity, and connection. From this realization emerged Liderarte (Lead with Art), a movement based on the conviction that the soul must be at the heart of leadership. Rather than offering rigid formulas or models, Liderarte creates secure, expressive environments where individuals are encouraged to confront their truth, embrace vulnerability, and reconnect with what truly motivates them. Under Bonasa’s leadership, the organization has launched over thirty pioneering projects that merge personal transformation with leadership development. These projects have revolutionized how leadership is taught, practiced, and lived, combining strategic direction with emotional depth. Through Liderarte, Bonasa disrupts conventional business paradigms and proposes a powerful alternative: leadership as a journey of self-discovery, collective elevation, and long-lasting impact, built not only on performance indicators but on the power of the human spirit and soulful purpose. Aprendizaje por el Arte® Methodology: Merging Neuroscience, Emotional Intelligence, and Aesthetics to Humanize Leadership One of Ignacio Bonasa’s most impactful contributions is Aprendizaje por el Arte (Learning Through Art®), a groundbreaking methodology that integrates neuroscience, emotional intelligence, experiential learning, and the expressive power of the arts. Developed as an antidote to the limitations of traditional analytical models, this method recognizes that profound learning and transformation come not only through logic but through embodied, emotional experience. Bonasa’s approach seeks to engage the whole person — mind, heart, and body — through painting, theater, music, and movement. Participants are invited to express unconscious emotions, break through internal blocks, and reinterpret limiting beliefs. These artistic processes act as powerful mirrors, revealing patterns, inner truths, and hidden strengths that often remain beneath the surface of rational dialogue. At the heart of the method is the brain’s neuroplasticity — its capacity to rewire through new experiences — which Bonasa uses to promote lasting emotional and behavioral change.  Aprendizaje por el Arte has proven effective across corporate training programs, educational institutions, and therapeutic settings. It redefines learning as a deeply human, multisensory experience that awakens empathy, ignites creativity, and fosters authentic self-expression. For Bonasa, art is not a luxury — it is a vital tool to reach the soul, build connection, and cultivate holistic, heart-led leadership. Transforming Crisis into Creativity: Turning Pain into Purpose Through Soulful Programs Bonasa’s core philosophy, expressed through the movement Dale la vuelta a la tortilla (Turn the Table), reflects his belief that personal crises can become turning points for transformation. Just like flipping a burnt omelette reveals unexpected textures, breakdowns — when faced with courage and introspection — can lead to richer growth and deeper meaning. This holistic vision underpins two of his most emblematic initiatives: ARTEcoaching and Womentoring.  ARTEcoaching fuses classical coaching

  SABRY ALI HASSAN MOHAMED – GROUP CFO AT EMDADAT ALATTA GROUP “Real leadership has nothing to do with being at the top: it’s all about getting the people below you to perform above their abilities.” The finance sector is a lifeline of the world economy and affects businesses, governments, as well as consumers. It represents a broad network of services from banking to investments, insurance to financial planning. Over the last few years, innovations such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, as well as e-banking have revolutionized financial institutions’ performance, enhancing convenience and accessibility. The sector is also strongly influenced by worldwide economic trends, with foreign exchange, trade policy, and financial markets influencing its development. Changes in regulations are still evolving, providing market stability and protecting consumers while putting firms to the test to adjust. The expanding need for finance professionals mirrors the heightened complexity of the industry, rendering expertise in financial strategy, risk management, and innovation vital for success. Sabry Mohamed’s professional life is an inspiration of resilience, adaptability, and visionary leadership. From account management in Egyptian resorts to accounting leadership in driving digital transformation as a Group CFO in Saudi Arabia, his professional life teaches not just the art of financial management but also innovative, people-centred leadership. Honoured as one of the Global 200 Power Leaders in Finance, Mohamed’s professional life is a living affirmation of the long-reaching impact of ethical leadership, continuous learning, and technological absorption on business achievement. The Foundations of Leadership: From Humble Hospitality Roots to Unparalleled Academic Excellence and Transformative Leadership Development Sabry Mohamed’s path into finance was not traditional at all. Starting his working life in hotel management and tourism resorts in Egypt, he spent ten years honing operational finance within a customer-focused setting. Steadily advancing to the position of Head of Accounts, he not only developed technical skills but also an in-depth appreciation of organizational dynamics and service excellence. His transition to Saudi Arabia represented a turning point, working at the Al-Rajhi Group, where he broadened his experience from accounting into strategic planning and business development. Climbing to Deputy General Manager and Director of Strategic Planning, Mohamed confronted his biggest leadership challenge amidst an operational restructuring period. His skill to keep the books stable during intricate changes rewrote his strategic resilience and readied him for increased leadership roles. While professional training established the foundation, Mohamed’s determination for academic excellence continued to refine his leadership philosophy. From his postgraduate diploma in finance and auditing and an MBA, he went further to acquire a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), after which he made a decision that strongly influenced his strategic thought. The scholarly intensity perfected his analytical skills, strengthened data-driven decisions, and expanded his knowledge of leadership theories, organizational behaviour, and strategic management. This effortless combination of technical knowledge and scholarly expertise enabled him to balance short-term objectives with long-term visions, predict market changes, and control risks effectively, as well as encourage cross-functional teamwork. Mohamed’s early professional life, supported by ongoing learning, built a robust, flexible leadership platform that now propels his success as Group CFO at Emdadat Alatta. A Digital Renaissance and Visionary Leadership for Sustainable Impact: Steering Transformation and Innovation at Emdadat Aletta Under Mohamed’s direction, Emdadat Alatta’s financial operations were dramatically transformed. Leveraging technology as a basis for operational excellence, he spearheaded the implementation of a sophisticated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, automating every facet of financial management from budgeting to compliance. This transition to real-time data analytics significantly improved decision-making, maximized cash flow management, and raised the financial agility of the company. Automation of mundane tasks eliminated human mistakes and allowed the finance team to concentrate on strategic plans, promoting efficiency within departments. Mohamed’s proactive adoption of data analytics tools offered better insights into market trends, operational efficiency, and customer patterns, allowing for better investment plans and improved financial forecasting. His efforts modernized financial procedures and cultivated an ethos of innovation and continuous improvement that put Emdat Alatta ahead in a growing, more competitive market. This organizational change was a manifestation of Mohamed’s larger vision as a leader, one of not just operational excellence but social contribution. He initiated a financial literacy outreach initiative in underserved communities, coupling corporate achievement with significant social contribution. This initiative, one of Emdadat Alatta’s corporate social responsibility objectives, enabled people to have the critical financial knowledge to help drive inclusivity and sustainable development. For Mohamed, success is not only quantified by better financial metrics but also by the real difference the company makes to lives and communities. His leadership style, a fusion of technology-fueled innovation, social responsibility, and sustainable growth, embodies the new, change-driven model required to propel financial leadership into the future today. Navigating Complex Global Markets: Overcoming Challenges, Seizing Opportunities, and Adapting Strategies Across Diverse Borders and Dynamic Economies Operating in Egypt and Saudi Arabia gave Mohamed a specific challenge and opportunity to navigate, necessitating strategic and flexible thinking. In Egypt, he had to contend with economic uncertainty, currency volatility, and a changing regulatory environment, which called for exceptional flexibility and robust in-house compliance mechanisms. Unusually high inflation and changing tax norms created financial planning complexity, while finding cheap financing for capital projects was a persistent problem. Against these challenges, Egypt’s growing consumer market and government drive to support SMEs presented substantial prospects for innovative financial direction and strategic expansion. Conversely, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 brought with it an age of swift diversification, with the sector focusing firmly on tourism, technology, and healthcare. The Kingdom’s drive towards diminishing its dependence on oil presented many opportunities for financial experts to drive sustainable economic growth. Mohamed’s skill in taking advantage of Saudi Arabia’s growing capital markets and synchronizing Emdadat Alatta’s financial plans with the country’s development objectives reflected his flexibility and strategic vision in managing two disparate economic settings. This experience in two markets not only honed Mohamed’s financial skills but also solidified his ability to achieve organizational success through perseverance and innovation. His profound knowledge of the local dynamics in Egypt and Saudi